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About »The Funeral Service Education program provides the educational foundation needed to seek a South Carolina or other state licensure, both as a funeral director and an embalmer. It is highly recommended that a student pursuing the Funeral Service Associate degree is currently working in a funeral home or has done so in the past. Preferably that student is currently in or has completed his or her apprenticeship.
The Funeral Service Education degree program at Piedmont Technical College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097; 816-233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.
National Board Examination scores, graduation rates and employment rates, for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org. To request a printed copy of this program's scores and rates, go to room 114V or by email at: martin.d@ptc.edu, or by telephone: (864) 941-8774.
GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES | ||
Courses | Credit Hours | |
ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3.0 |
MAT 155 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3.0 |
SPC 205 | Public Speaking | 3.0 |
Elective Humanities/Fine Arts | 3.0 | |
Elective Social Science/Behavioral Science | 3.0 | |
Subtotal | 15.0 | |
REQUIRED CORE SUBJECT AREAS | ||
FSE 101 | Introduction to Funeral Service | 2.0 |
FSE 112 | Anatomy and Physiology for Funeral Service | 3.0 |
FSE 165 | Sociology of Funeral Services | 2.0 |
FSE 205 | Funeral Counseling | 3.0 |
FSE 210 | Funeral Service Management and Merchandising I | 3.0 |
FSE 211 | Funeral Service Management and Merchandising II | 2.0 |
FSE 213 | Microbiology/Pathology for Funeral Service | 3.0 |
FSE 215 | Funeral Services Directing I | 3.0 |
FSE 216 | Funeral Services Directing II | 2.0 |
FSE 220 | Regulatory Compliance | 3.0 |
FSE 225 | Principles of Embalming I | 3.0 |
FSE 226 | Principles of Embalming II | 3.0 |
FSE 240 | Restorative Art I | 3.0 |
FSE 241 | Restorative Art II | 3.0 |
FSE 300 | Board Preparations | 2.0 |
Subtotal | 40.0 | |
OTHER COURSES REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION | ||
AHS 102 | Medical Terminology | 3.0 |
ACC 101 | Accounting Principles I | 3.0 |
CPT 101 | Introduction to Computers | 3.0 |
MGT 120 | Small Business Management | 3.0 |
Subtotal | 12.0 | |
Total Credit Hours | 67.0 |
Updated 3/31/2017
National Board Examination scores, graduation rates and employment rates for this and other ABFSE accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org. To request a printed copy of this programs scores and rates, go to room 114V or by email at: martin.d@ptc.edu or telephone; (864) 941-8774.
PROGRAM INFORMATION | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Total Enrolled | # of New Students | # of Grads | Timely Grad* | Graduation Rate | Did Not Finish** | Overall % Employed | Employed in FS |
2019 | 34 | 34 | 14 | 14/14 | 82% | 0 | 100% | 79% |
2018 | 50 | 26 | 22 | 21/22 | 79% | 1 | 91% | 91% |
2017 | 49 | 31 | 26 | 19/26 | 90% | 1 | 92% | 92% |
NATIONAL BOARD STATISTICS | ||
---|---|---|
3-Year Average | % Pass Arts | % Pass Sciences |
2017-2019 | 69% | 62% |
2016-2018 | 67% | 59% |
2015-2017 | 67% | 75% |
Most Recent | # Takers | # Passed |
2019 Arts | 14 | 11 |
2019 Sciences | 10 | 8 |
Candidates for the associate degree or the certificate in Funeral Service Education must meet the requirements for graduation of the college. In addition, students enrolled in the Funeral Service Education program leading to the associate degree or the certificate must progress in meeting the requirements of their program according to the following policy:
In accordance with the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service, an individual must be at least 18 years old; have a high school diploma or the equivalent; have completed at least a 60-credit program of study with an accredited school and approved by the board (with a full associate degree required for an embalmer); have completed two years of approved apprenticeship; not have been convicted of a violent crime, felony or crime of moral turpitude; and have successfully passed the South Carolina and National Examining Board licensing examinations for embalming and/or funeral directing.
All graduates are asked to complete the Graduate Survey.
Employers are asked to complete the Employer Survey.
In accordance with the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Piedmont Technical College and the Funeral Service Education program aims and objectives recognize the importance of Funeral Service Education personnel as:
Students enrolled in Funeral Service Education courses are required to provide evidence of annual tuberculosis screenings and evidence of vaccination against tetanus within the last 10 years. Students shall have on file prior to entry into the practicum courses or clinical work, one or more of the following: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization record or antibody titer showing a positive antigen response to HBV. Students are not eligible to participate in the practicum or clinical works until this information
is completed and on file.
Each student is responsible for transportation to and from any practicum or clinical sites.
The Funeral Service Education program adheres to the college's attendance policy. In addition, students are expected to attend all practicum activities. Make-up time for missed practicum experiences will be determined at the discretion of the faculty and availability of practicum facilities. Faculty may require withdrawal of any student who has missed sufficient practice to prevent completion of the practicum objectives.
The purpose of the Funeral Service Degree is to educate and prepare individuals not only to contribute to the funeral service profession, but also the community in which they serve. We strive to give students the knowledge, principles, and skills which are essential to become a funeral director and embalmer.
2.1.1 Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
2.1.2 Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
2.1.3 Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
2.1.4 Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
2.1.5 Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
2.1.6 Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
2.1.7 Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
2.1.8 Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
2.1.9 Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
2.1.10 Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.
Updated 10/29/2020
If a student is not ready to take college-level courses, he or she should enroll in the appropriate developmental or transitional coursework. All of these prerequisite courses may not be available online.
Excellent reading comprehension, communication and critical thinking skills are vital for program success and for passing National or State Examining Board licensing exams.
The English required for this program is ENG 101. Students will follow this progression, with their starting point being determined by their placement test scores: ENG 032/012 and/or RDG 032/012 (or RWR 032/012) > ENG 100 and/or RDG 100 (or RWR 100) > ENG 101.
The math course required for this program is MAT 155. Students will follow this progression, with their starting point being determined by their placement test scores: MAT 032/012 > MAT 155.
FSE courses are scheduled in the late mornings and afternoons and generally meet only two days per week. During the last three semesters, FSE classes will run either on a Monday, Tuesday or a Wednesday, Thursday schedule. Students must meet their health requirements before entering into these classes.
FSE students must complete all General Education and FSE courses with grades of “C” or better. Students may repeat FSE courses one time to achieve a grade of “C" or better.
All transfer courses from another mortuary college will need to be approved by the PTC Funeral Service Education department.
For the associate degree, students must complete all general education coursework before starting in their funeral service coursework. Students must also come to the campus to meet the faculty and tour the facilities before starting their first FSE coursework. Call (864) 941-8774 to arrange a visit.
Students will not be registered into any FSE courses within 10 business days of the start of any semester, unless all their paperwork is complete.
For the Funeral Director's Certificate and the Embalmer's Certificate, students must either have completed their apprenticeship, or be in the process of completing their apprenticeship, in order to take any South Carolina licensure exam. In order to complete the Embalmer's Certificate, a student must be actively be working at a funeral home and have permission to complete their required embalming cases at that location.
Starting with the Fall 2019 cohort, Associate Degree students must complete a competitive secondary application process to proceed to the FSE coursework. Call (864) 941-8774 for full details.
Funeral Service (FSE3) - Fall Program Start
Funeral Service (FSE3) - Spring Program Start
You can find the name of your assigned academic advisor by reviewing Degree Works or your Class Schedule. To learn more about advising visit the Advising webpage.
Contact Funeral Services Program Director David Martin or Dedrick Gantt for more information about the Funeral Services degree.
You may also contact Nancy Wilke for information about this program.
Please email advising@ptc.edu if this advising guide needs corrections or update
Advisement Information updated/reviewed 4/2020